Eugene hadn't yet come to terms with his location when he dragged his painfully aching body to its feet, assuming a defensive posture. His body felt heavier than before, and his limbs and bones still harbored a vague pain as well as a pin-pricking chill.
Knight Eugene knew this was proof that he had come perilously close to death.
"You're awake," said an ethereal female voice.
Eugene clenched the hilt of his sword and turned sharply, facing Miss Anakin, who sported a professional smile.
"Your physical condition is very poor. It's best not to move too abruptly," Anakin advised politely. "That curse was too powerful, and even with our full treatment, your body still suffered considerable damage."
"Don't worry, these injuries aren't permanent. You just need about half a month of rest," she added thoughtfully.
The curse.
Memories gradually emerged from the stillness of Eugene's mind.
After beheading the False God, that horrifying red shadow relentlessly charged at him. It was fast, but just within Eugene's ability to evade.
It was purely torture.
It didn't immediately take his life but gave him the illusion of a chance to fight back, causing him to flee tirelessly, waiting for him to be completely exhausted and in utter despair.
As the leader of the Investigation Knights, Eugene had dealt with thousands of curses. Compared to this curse, those were merely child's play—the curse's shadow emitted pure malice, and Eugene knew that if it caught him, he would face an agonizing death.
Eugene ran through the burning church, the shadow following at a measured pace. It ignored the nearby Anakin and others, focusing solely on chasing Eugene.
What about asking for help from the Saints?
But the curse was too powerful, and he wasn't sure if the Players' "immortality" could withstand it. If the Saints were to sacrifice themselves for God, it would be commendable. But to die in his stead… Eugene couldn't bring himself to do something so against the Goddess' will.
Or should he just give up?
Fighting to the end, he was sure to die a messy and ugly death. But simply giving up—how was that different from admitting defeat?
He ran, his ears filled with the sound of the wind, the flames, and a soft sigh.
Just as Eugene once again evaded the curse's red shadow, a hand grabbed his wrist. The hand wasn't particularly strong, but the magical runes that followed pinned Eugene firmly in place.
[Time of Farewell]
It was one of the unique skills of the rare "Saint" class. It could, and only could, let the caster take on the target's "death".
Given that it couldn't transfer the target's injuries or negative statuses, it was a rather useless and unpopular skill in regular combat. But all high-ranking clergy knew that in special circumstances, this skill could be the only solution—
For instance, when the target "encounters a curse that ensures death".
The skill activated, and a gentle new green light illuminated. Countless runes flickered with light, moving across their skin.
This skill looked as pleasant as a spring breeze, but it nearly made Eugene scream. It felt as if it was peeling the nerves inside his body, something being uprooted and pulled out of his flesh, gradually leaving his body.
A few steps away, the curse's red shadow hesitated, seemingly confused.
Anakin recognized this curse and turned pale. "Wait, there must be another way—"
"…If it's just about keeping distance, I can use spatial teleportation to delay time," Drake said with a hint of urgency in his usually calm voice.
'Useless,' Eugene thought.
Everyone knew that this situation was utterly unsolvable. This wasn't a regular False God curse. He could feel the "absolute" power of the system in it.
Trying to save him through other means was like trying to transfuse blood to someone who had lost half their body. Moreover, Anakin and Drake looked extremely tired. [Time of Farewell] was the most suitable solution, but—
Eugene struggled to stay conscious, staring fixedly at the nearby Painter. Under the intense pain of the skill's activation, neither had the strength to stand and could only sit disgracefully among the ruins.
The curse's red shadow slowed down, approaching step by step. Painter's hand holding his was steady and warm, not trembling at all.
That guy still had a smile on his face.
"There are places that need you more." Painter said to the two, sounding like he was assigning cleaning tasks. "And the skill has already started. If we interrupt it now, we both die here."
Die.
No, that's not acceptable.
Eugene struggled violently, trying to shake off Painter's hand. Unfortunately, the Saint's magic wouldn't be interrupted by such a trivial refusal. Painter's palm seemed soldered to his wrist.
My oracle is fulfilled. I can disappear now. But you…
Eugene suddenly stopped moving.
Was Painter's death meant to achieve fulfill God? Should he just let it happen naturally?
No, that wasn't right. Even if it was to die, that person should have sacrificed himself in a grander, more sacred manner. Godfrey Painter shouldn't die quietly in the rubble, not for saving himself…
"I really like this ending." Painter turned those green eyes towards Eugene and said deliberately. "I chose it soberly, calmly. I must say, saving Mr. Eugene personally is much more pleasant than being a stepping stone for a god."
"Well, it's a little better than saving cats and dogs," he added silently.
"Godfrey Painter!"
Eugene couldn't tell if his tone was more fearful or angry, or both.
Right, right. He could still cut off his arm.
Eugene's left hand reached for his sword but was caught by Painter's binding magic. As the damned red shadow approached, Eugene's vision grew dimmer, his head ached as if it would split, and his eardrums throbbed.
This can't be.
His mind was filled with chaotic thoughts.
Why? …I don't know, but it can't be like this…
"…It's almost over."
In his gradually fading vision, Painter's voice sounded as if through a layer of water, vague and fluctuating.
"…I'm sorry, Eugene…"
Why apologize?
Why apologize at a time like this?
Eugene wanted to question, but he had lost control of his tongue and vocal cords. In his vision filled with flashing stars, that damned red shadow slowly embraced Painter, who didn't resist, merely smiling and patting its head.
...
"No…"
Memories gradually fell into place, and Eugene squeezed out a voice from his dry throat.
Godfrey Painter was gone, he thought. He hadn't managed to drag that guy back to the Temple, hadn't managed to hear Painter's confession. Until the end, he died desecrated and unremarkable.
Eugene slowly raised his hands to cover his face.
"Um." Anakin didn't know how to continue the conversation.
Say Painter was alright?
That really wasn't certain. Painter had been casually taken away by Teest. Teest certainly didn't have a mission to "save the innocent". She was sure that when he took Painter away, the Mad Monk's expression was like—to use a very inappropriate metaphor—like someone numbly picking up shit while walking their dog.
Even if Teest accidentally dropped Painter and killed him while looking for Nol, she wouldn't be particularly surprised.
After all, that was the system's highest-level curse. Even if Nol fully controlled the system, he would still need to handle it within logical rules. It was as if Painter had been thrown into an operating room with the "in surgery" light still on.
Anyway, Eugene wasn't one of their companions, so Miss Anakin quickly decided to leave this unfortunate problem to someone else.
"That False God has disappeared." She decided to give Mr. Eugene some good news. "Its entity has been completely annihilated, and now everyone can see the real moon… There's only one moon, and it's especially beautiful."
She selectively omitted the fact that the False God had impersonated the Goddess of Life and the Eternal Son.
Eugene hung his head in silence, his shoulders shaking slightly. He still covered his face, his hands submerged in the deepening shadows.
This guy isn't about to cry, is he?
Too awkward. Miss Anakin felt a chill in her heart and began desperately thinking of a dignified excuse to leave.
"…Ha." Eugene finally made a sound.
Anakin stiffened beside him. Wait, that sounded a bit off?
"Ha ha ha—!"
Eugene laughed out loud, even seeming a bit relieved.
Anakin quietly clenched her wand. Great, the guy's been so traumatized he might have just gone crazy…
"Thank you, Miss Anakin. I understand now." Eugene lowered his hands, his eyes unnaturally bright.
"No wonder he so easily apostatized back then… No wonder he anonymously guided those monks and nuns… No wonder that in the end, he was without any confusion and didn't repent to God…"
"No wonder I could never bring myself to act against him and could never forget his words…"
"Why?" Anakin braced herself to continue the conversation.
"I believe in him." Eugene spoke fervently. "So he is the incarnate of the Goddess of Life."
Knowing the truth, Anakin felt like she was sitting on pins and needles, deciding not to comment on this bizarre causal deduction. Stimulating the patient was generally a bad idea, she thought painfully.
"He saved me because I was his most favored believer. He apologized to me because he initially told me he was merely an envoy of God."
"He can only be Tilia. He must be Tilia."
Eugene smiled, his words carrying an irrefutable certainty.
"That's really… well, an interesting conclusion." Anakin struggled to maintain a smile. "You seem to be in good spirits. I'll check the next tent."
Eugene nodded joyfully, giving a proper knightly salute.
"Kind miss, may your life be full of vitality."
Anakin took off running.
...
In the next tent.
Teest looked dissatisfied at Nol, while Nol anxiously looked at Painter.
Nol had just released Painter from the seal and used the freshly baked "reversion" power to stop time, maintaining Painter in a half-dead state.
Nol knew this wasn't exactly a sweet honeymoon activity.
But the Lost Tower was still clearing up outside the city, and Drake was helping the Players, trying to fabricate a believable identity. Nol was still immersed in the chaos of their rushed marriage, and he needed to find some proper work for himself.
So Nol remembered the living creature he had urgently sealed. When he realized it was Painter, he was shocked.
"Ah, I should have let him die." Teest rested his face on his hands. "Then we could have done a reversion, and I could have taken you to meet my family…"
"You did well." Nol hurried to reassure. "Don't worry. Once you get along with your family, we can invite them to the wedding—you know, do a standard ceremony. Exchange rings and vows to each other."
"And a kiss after the vows." Teest fantasized for a moment, satisfied with a hum. "Okay, then let him live. Come to think of it, I thought you could heal this guy with a snap of your fingers."
"Even I can't just alter the system's logic."
Although his Tahe and the shit of problems weren't related, blind changes could still pose issues. Painter had normally used [Time of Farewell], thus he must endure the death outcome. Nol really couldn't adjust that.
Unless…
Nol glanced at Teest, who was yawning beside him, and vaguely had an idea. He carefully took Painter's right hand and slowly exhaled.
[Welcome, Nol.]
[You are applying for "Administrator Assistance Permissions".]
[A "Standard Administrator" identity has been created, with specific system permissions available.]
'This is it,' Nol thought. A system could only have one highest administrator, but he could designate GMs to help manage. Translated to Tahe terms, a god could have relatively weaker demigods.
His Teest was a genuine god. Although Teest always claimed to be Nol's pope, Nol would never truly let him be a subordinate.
Painter was different. His power was still hovering at the threshold of a False God, and he was filled with love for Tahe. As long as they negotiated, Painter could become an excellent assistant manager.
[You will grant the target Godfrey Painter "Standard Administrator" status.]
[Please select "Standard Administrator" Godfrey Painter's callable system permissions.]
Nol checked through the dizzying array of permissions, finally finding his target—
[You have designated the system permission "Life".]
["Standard Administrator" Godfrey Painter will be allowed to borrow the system permission "Life".]
This way, Mr. Painter could use the life permission to counteract the death outcome. Full system permissions were definitely stronger than the effects brought by skills.
Before confirming the operation, Nol looked at the "Standard Administrator" name, which seemed too plain. He hesitated for a moment and then reactivated the system.
[You are requesting to rename Godfrey Painter's "Standard Administrator" status.]
["Standard Administrator" → "God of Life".]
[Name change completed.]
The author has something to say:
Mr. Eugene, through a completely wrong process, got the right result.
How is this not a kind of fate?
The God of Creation starts arranging work before going on his honeymoon!